The other day, my two teen girls and I were browsing around in a few stores. When we got to the clothing section in the thrift store, a kind helpful employee overheard our conversation about the affordability of this particular store. So we struck up a conversation with her. About mid-conversation she says "Oh yeah, we have lots of great stuff for girls your age." She then proceeded to talk about fashion and such. Once she finished, I said something like "I'm the mom, by the way." She was in disbelief for a second because she actually believed that I was a teen, like my girls. She then asks me how old my kids were. She thought my kids were at home and smaller. Well, she was halfway correct. The younger two were at school. I informed her that the 15 and 17 year old were those ages and were in fact my kids. The conversation continued into more talk like that for a bit. I’m never sure whether to be flattered or feel immature when people mistake me for a teenager. This isn’t the first time. Most of the time I take it as a compliment. But sometimes I wonder if looking too young may not always be a good thing.

Until the next adventure! ~ Lyn *I originally published this on PersonaPaper (I have since removed it).

Bo-Bo stole my crackers and I liked it! Okay, I know you're thinking "Who the heck is this Bo-Bo and why would you want him to steal your crackers?" Here's the thing. Bo-Bo is incredibly adorable and I'm incredibly gullible when it comes to things like this. You see, Bo-Bo is my super cute, super persistent, lovable, huggable, one-of-a-kind grand-dog. Can you tell I like him? Bo-Bo Stole My Crackers and I Liked It!

Yesterday, I was sitting on my bed typing away and eating some wheat crackers and I hear a scratch at the bedroom door. I opened it and in comes my cute furry grandchild. He hops on the bed and sees my box of crackers. Then, he watches me eat some with those begging, droopy, woe is me puppy dog eyes. So, I give him one cracker after he agrees to perform a trick to a command in French ( yes, our dogs know their commands in several languages ). Well, he somehow managed to entice more of them out of me with a combination of whimpers, the droopy eye thing, and super cute tricks. Gullible. I'm so gullible, I tell ya. Not normally. But it's Bo-Bo!!! I leave you with the track that inspired my title, but has nothing at all to do with this story because I'm random and silly like that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAp9BKosZXs Until the next adventure! ~ Lyn *I originally published this on PersonaPaper (I have since removed it).

We all have those little things we love that mean something to us, big or small. One of my favorite things is the sound of rushing water. It just does something to my soul every time I hear it. Whether it’s coming from a waterfall, a soothing shower, the pouring rain, or a wave crashing over the shore, I love hearing the sound of rushing water. It’s like music to my soul. When my album comes out (yes, I sing), don’t be surprised if one or more songs feature or mention some form of rushing water.

Rushing water can energize me, as well as relax me. From wading among waves, to standing under Niagara Falls, to running in the rain, to picnicking on the shore of a rushing creek, to falling asleep to the sounds of a thunderstorm, water is always present in my life. Do you love the sounds of rushing water? *I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there).

Death is a fact of life. But it really hits hard for kids. Recently, my kids lost a family pet. It was hard but some of the things I did helped them understand and get through it. When a child's pet dies, it's never fun. But you can help the process go more smoothly by taking various actions throughout the process.Prepare them ahead of time. Ideally, you should discuss the death before it happens. Explain to your child the average time frame his pet should be around. Also, let them know what death is and why it has to happen. In our case, we adopted a hamster when he was already an adult. Hamsters live for an average of 2-3 years. So I prepared the children in advance for this day. We knew Buddy would not be with us very long. But we rescued him anyway so that he would be happy while he was on the Earth.Break the news gently. Don't just walk up to your child and say their pet has died. If your child is not present when their furry friend passes away, sit her down and have a talk. In Buddy's case, we were all present when he passed away, so we talked about what he meant to us and how happy we made him. Because of Buddy, my kids and I will be rescuing hamsters as often as possible whenever we have room for them. Depending on your faiths and practices, you can go into more detail about what happens to the pet after death. But do it in a gentle way that your child understands.

Craft the pet's ceremonial supplies together. This helps your child settle in her mind that the pet is indeed gone. It also helps them understand that death is a natural part of life and the pet is still happy. My children crafted and decorated a pet coffin for Buddy and drew pictures to place with him. While making the items, the kids and I discussed the fact that we gave Buddy a happy life while he was here and now he can play forever. Be sure your child knows and understands that he did all he could for the pet and now the pet will remain in their hearts.

Have a proper burial and remembrance. A ceremony helps kids finalize the death of a pet. We created a pet cemetery for Buddy in a garden area of the yard, complete with a tombstone. As Buddy was placed each person said what he meant to them. While this may not help your kids get over their pet right away, it does help solidify the fact that the animal is no longer going to be around. That goes a long way in helping kids heal. They need to have an honest and reassuring answer.Do something in the pet's honor. As mentioned above, we placed Buddy in a garden area of the yard. In the spring, a garden will be planted there. Also, Buddy came to us in a special way. He was abused and neglected in his previous home and was an owner surrender. He was also an adult and blind in one eye. We took Buddy in, as his chances of another doing so were slim with his special needs. It is because of Buddy that we have rescued other hamsters and plan to keep up that effort to help other animals and keep Buddy's legacy alive. Doing a special deed in honor of your child's pet can help alleviate the grief, as it shows how special that pet is to the world.

We also strive to one day cuddle with lions and giraffes. Until then, we’ll settle for furry rescue kitties and doggies.

We support many causes via our business ventures, such as homelessness, support for trans youth, equality, helping starving artists, and more! A portion of all proceeds from Intent-sive Nature goes toward helping homeless pets in local shelters.